Copal is the resin burned as incense on many Day of the Dead altars.
Copal comes from aromatic trees and has been used ceremonially in Mesoamerica for centuries. The word derives from the Nahuatl term copalli, meaning incense. When heated on charcoal, the resin releases a strong, distinctive fragrance and produces smoke used in ritual settings.
On an ofrenda, copal is commonly associated with purification and with guiding or welcoming visiting spirits. Its use connects contemporary Día de los Muertos practices with older Indigenous traditions, although the holiday itself also incorporates Catholic elements linked to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Copal is sometimes confused with frankincense or myrrh because all three are fragrant resins burned as incense. They come from different plants and cultural histories: frankincense is chiefly associated with Boswellia trees, while myrrh comes from Commiphora trees. Sage may also be burned in some ceremonies, but it is an herb rather than the resin traditionally identified with Mexican altar incense.